Early life. Senator and later, Venetian ambassador to Savoy, Poland, Spain, France, and bailiff before Sultan Amurat III of Constantinople (1).

Priesthood. Ordained in Venice (no further information found).

Episcopate. Elected bishop of Brescia, September 23, 1585 (2). Consecrated (no information found). Nuncio in France, 1587-1589; on the same day he was promoted to the cardinalate, the pope named him legate a latere with the mission of reconciling Henri I de Lorraine, third duke of Guise and his brother Louis II de Guise, second cardinal of Guise with King Henri III of France (3).

Cardinalate. Created cardinal priest in the consistory of July 15, 1588; received the red hat and the title of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo, July 27, 1588. Opted for the title of S. Maria in Via, March 28 (4), 1590. Participated in the first conclave of 1590, which elected Pope Urban VII. Participated in the second conclave of 1590, which elected Pope Gregory XIV. Participated in the conclave of 1591, which elected Pope Innocent IX. Participated in the conclave of 1592, which elected Pope Clement VIII. Protector of Germany and Hungary. He was a close friend of Filippo Neri, the future saint.

Death. January 10, 1596, Brescia. Buried in the cathedral of Brescia, next to the altar of S. Croce (5). He left all his wealth to the poor.